Encephalitis in US Children

Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2018 Mar;32(1):145-162. doi: 10.1016/j.idc.2017.10.007. Epub 2017 Dec 8.

Abstract

Encephalitis is an uncommon but severe disease characterized by neurologic dysfunction with central nervous system inflammation. Children with encephalitis should receive supportive care and empiric therapies for common and treatable causes while prioritizing diagnostic evaluation for common, treatable, and high-risk conditions. Even with an extensive diagnostic workup, an infectious cause is identified in less than half of cases, suggesting a role for postinfectious or noninfectious processes.

Keywords: Anti-NMDA; Arbovirus; Encephalitis; Enterovirus; Herpes simplex virus; Meningoencephalitis; Myelitis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Arboviruses / isolation & purification
  • Brain / microbiology
  • Brain / pathology
  • Brain / virology
  • Child
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Encephalitis / diagnosis*
  • Encephalitis / epidemiology*
  • Encephalitis / etiology
  • Encephalitis / virology
  • Enterovirus / isolation & purification
  • Female
  • Herpes Simplex
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Meningoencephalitis / diagnosis
  • Meningoencephalitis / epidemiology*
  • Meningoencephalitis / immunology
  • Meningoencephalitis / virology
  • Myelitis / virology
  • United States / epidemiology